11-08-1993 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING CO.>LMISSION MEETING HELD OCTOBER 18, 1993 Schroeder asked why this application was before the Planning Commission. Gaffron explained that it is part of the appeal process stated in the Code when the applicant does not want to comply with City requirements. Because Mound is a contract city, the appeal process is to the City Council, not to the State Fire Marshal. O’Sullivan gave a summary of his position on how this situation came about. He noted in February of 1988 he was given a permit that stated he complied with all conditions. He indicated there never has been any striping or signage indicating a tire lane and he has operated 5 1/2 years without these. O’Sullivan continued dial on July 15, 1993 an Orono police officer tagged one of O’Sullivan’s emplovees for parking a motorcycle in the storefront, and that the employee told the oflicer that other Officers have stopped at the station and said they would not tag anyone for parking there and it wasn’t a legal lire lane. O’Sullivan noted that the citation ended up being revoked but it became an issue" with the Chief, and this resulted in a letter from Stephen Sullivan, Chief ot Police, to O’Sullivan, dated July 28, 1993. (O’Sullivan gave copies ot this letter to Planning Commission members.) O’Sullivan’s response, in a letter dated August 10, 1993 to Steve Sullivan, included the statement ”1 am not aware of anv officers parking in our lire lane and my mght managers nave also conlirmed this. ’We do not have a legal fire lane and only consider the area directly in tront of our entrance/exit doors a No Parking area. O’S dlivan indicated he sent the letter to the Chief because they sit on the board together on a monthly basis, and he assumed that the letter he sent would not be shared with the officers. He stated he felt the officers were getting some "unfair heat". He noted Liat he also copied the letter to the Orono Police Officers Union representative so they wou'J know O Sullivan s feelings on the matter. O’Si'llivan continued that this lead to an interoffice memo dated August 9 from Officer Tomcheck to Chief Sullivan regarding the re.search he did as to whether O’Sullivan s had a tire lane. Apparently Tomcheck concluded that there is no code for it or no need for a fire lane. O'Sullivan stated the next event was a meetmg in late August on O there w^ Marshal Jerrv Babb, Officer Tomcheck and O’Sullivan. He noted duit Babb stated no code mandating a fire lane and it was ludicrous to impose it on O’Sullivan as did not have fire lanes, and Babb told O’Sullivin it would only be enlorced ^ a fire lane. Babb concluded by saying that if 'he City- required JJ^rnr^that al it would have to be enforced with every other t usincss in Orono. O Sullivan i that point, he did not think there was any further issue.